Ahoy, mateys! This is my first POTC fanfic ever! I don't own POTC. Never thought I'd be writing for POTC, but here we are. I only ever started watching the movies the passed few months! Crazy, I know. But now, I'm hooked. And the series has been a comedy relief with losing my mom this summer. I have more stories in mind, but this is my first and wanted to get started sharing it with you. Hope you like it. Reviews are welcome.


Elizabeth Swann was an early riser by habit. She liked to rise before first light to greet the brink of a new day, her heart usually soaring with hope as the sun rose. But not today. As Elizabeth tossed on her bed in her cabin, she heard busy voices outside. She blinked and slowly opened her eyes. They widened as she noticed the brightness of the day. "Why, it's mid-morning by now!" She scolded herself and briskly attempted to sit up and rise to dress herself. But she nearly collapsed dizzily and fell back onto the bed.

"What? What was that about?" She frowned. Her head felt heavy and her limbs felt weak. "I don't understand it." She grumbled. It couldn't be seasickness! Why, she hadn't been seasick since she was a little girl! And she could tell by the steady flow of The Black Pearl beneath her feet that they were sailing on calm waters. She tried to contemplate why she felt so faint. She had felt extra tired the night before, and a bit congested. And she had had a few coughing fits during the night, but had thought no more of it. "I'm fine. Just a bit lousy from oversleeping." She decided, though she didn't understand why she'd slept so late.

She stood up to dress herself, but her body felt as if she couldn't maneuver it properly. Her legs felt felt like jelly. "What I need is a good dose of fresh, salty sea air." She feebly smiled to herself, coughing slightly. "Aye, that will do it. I should feel more myself in a few moments." She climbed, rather staggered, up the stairs to outside on deck.


The men were all busy with various tasks. Elizabeth looked for Will. He was always the first dear face she wanted to greet for the day. "Mornin' Miss Swann." Gibbs smiled with a nod toward her.

"Morning, Mr. Gibbs," Elizabeth smiled back. But she found herself strongly craving the desire to just lie down instead of walking.

"Good to see you up. 'Bout some breakfast?"

"No thank you." Elizabeth shook her head lazily. The thought of food actually made her cringe.

"Ya sure?" Gibbs sputtered in surprise. "It's mighty tasty! Those scrumptious baguettes we took aboard from out last port!"

"Perhaps later." Elizabeth sighed. She felt cold. "Have you seen Will, err...Mr. Turner?"

"I believe he's below deck somewhere, tending to the firearms." Gibbs replied.

"Thank you." Elizabeth nodded and trudged forward. She wanted to see Will, then begin her day. But the thought of climbing down more stairs made her muscles tense up. In her mind, she told herself she could, but her body screeched more and more for less exertion. And it was stuffy down there. No, she needed the good clean air of the wind to regain her strength and spark, especially with the nagging tickle in her chest. So, she begrudgingly made her way towards the helm.


Elizabeth remained at the helm, staring out at the boundless sea, but she was tempted to lay her head on top of her arms across the railing. Her bed sounded so inviting right now. She shivered as goosebumps ran up and down her arms from the constant chills she was having. She blamed it on the ocean breeze. Pintel and Raghetti had asked her if there were any instructions she required of them. She told them not at the moment. They both noticed she looked rather peaked and asked if she was all right. She insisted she was fine, just tired. However, the coughing was becoming more persistent. Elizabeth just hoped it would pass before anyone else noticed.

The entire crew could hear Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Hector Barbossa's childish, boisterous bickering from on the other side of the ship. Everyone either laughed, rolled their eyes, gaped with fear, shook their heads, or just went about their business. This was a typical activity on board The Black Pearl, or anywhere for that matter when the two captains were together. Butting heads must have been a favorite daily sport of theirs. Elizabeth giggled hearing their voices and wondering what the spat was about this time, but the volume of their yelling seemed extra loud today and made her want to go hide.

Jack clambered up the helm next to her, huffing and pouting. He jerked a bottle of rum from his coat and took one very offended gulp. "I take it you two didn't see eye to eye?" Elizabeth teased.

"Prey tell me, dearie, why I ever agreed to let that belligerent old buzzard onto my vessel!" Jack whined to her.

Elizabeth winced from the pain in her head. "Oh, he's not so bad, really." Jack narrowed his eyes at her. "On the outside, he's as thick and mean as an alligator. But I know, on the inside he's a big softie."

Jack eyed her then his bottle of rum suspiciously. Had she already had a nip this early in the day? "No. He's a bloody cur all the way through."

"He's a pirate." Elizabeth sighed. "Would you expect any less?"

"Best watch your tongue, love." Jack scolded playfully. "I might see reason to maroon you off board to an uncharted place you'll never escape from!"

Elizabeth was nearly too weary to argue. Nevertheless, she tried to keep her spunk up. "You'll be sorry for that later." She said, and rubbed her head.

"Oh." Jack bit his lip. He knew too well that she was right. Even if he had the drive to toss both Will and Elizabeth overboard, he had no doubt they'd somehow make their way back to him someday, with a vengeance that he did not want to face! They were both persistent, fearless, and stubborn, like himself. He cleared his throat and took another gulp of rum.

"Old Hector tells me that I'm running us too far south in the wrong direction. I am here to declare to you, Miss Swann, that I am not! I know these waters ten times more accurately than he does! Or, wouldn't you agree?"

Elizabeth was breathing heavy. Darn ocean breezes. She felt so cold. "Are you s-sure...c-could it be possible...we've run off course?" Elizabeth's teeth chattered, not thinking about what she was saying. "We could be near Siberia." She hung her head. "It's becoming rather chilly, don't you think?"

Jack gaped incredulously, not sure if she was teasing him or insulting his intelligence again. "Darling, I can assure you that the Black Pearl is steady and reliable. Or don't you have faith in me?" Jack teased, till he glanced at her. Elizabeth looked miserable, wrapping her arms around herself, and she was shaking. "Elizabeth," Jack's face frowned with concern as he stepped toward her, "are you all right?"

"I'm f-fine." Elizabeth gulped hard as she shivered.

"No, you are not." Jack shook his head. "You look awful."

"I just..." Elizabeth tried to speak, but grasped her head. Then she fell forward with her eyes closed.

"Lizzie?" Jack gasped as he caught her before she fell on the dock.